When his Moroccan roots met a German upbringing, the result led years later to Faissal Lachhab's idea of combining traditional Arabian clothing with western style.
The aspiring entrepreneur now hopes to start a website business that will allow customers to style their own kandouras and abayas with the help of design experts.
"It started a year ago when I noticed in the UAE a great lack in online stores. So I thought I'd provide an interface for fashion designers to feed the database with different styles, the customer would be able to view his model in 3D and choose his own style," Mr Lachhab, 35, said.
His plan is to have two fashion designers working on the website and to ensure that customers abide by the designers' rules in order to avoid a "reckless" mix and match.
"I have the Saudi Arabian fashion designer Hatem Alakeel in mind as well as the website Lomarthobes.com," he said.
Mr Alakeel said he found the idea interesting but that taking part in such a venture would depend on the kind of service the website was operating.
"I'm going to [have my designs] in Saks Fifth Avenue in the next month and I'm already part of the Boutique One website, so it would probably have to be something that would top both concepts," the designer said.
However, he commended Mr Lachhab for his perseverance and said he believed there was a market for such an idea.
"I think it's great, very smart and innovative," he said.
The entrepreneur has a background in IT and worked part-time in web design while studying.
"I was fascinated by creating websites and online applications," Mr Lachhab said.
He has been working in the luxury retail field in Sharjah since his move to the UAE three years ago, but his passion for online fashion, supported by his wife, Zeinab, is taking over and he believes it to be a long-term commitment.
"Fashion is continuously changing and it is driven by creativity. It is evolving and I am allowing customers to be trendsetters so why should that [cycle] ever end?" he said.
One issue he has encountered is time constraints. "I have a full-time job, which only leaves two to three hours a day to work on this idea and I have a family so it's not suitable," he said.
"I think this project needs full dedication and once I dedicate myself completely, I will be able to open an office in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have a production team and eventually leave my job," he added.
His top priority is securing funding for the start-up business. He has found it quite a challenge, and explained his two failed attempts.
"I am looking for investment, it's the most important thing. I even thought about sending an e-mail to Abraaj Capital but they seem too big. Sometimes I feel like quitting but when I see a man wearing a nice kandoura, I get more motivated and keep at the idea," he said.
"I've been working on the idea and the concept for so long I don't think I can implement it that quick so I hope I will be able to find an investor and if I do, I might be able to launch in two months," he added.
Rabih Brair, the co-founder and managing partner of Tandem, a boutique advisory firm aimed at start-ups and small-medium enterprises, said he believed Mr Lachhab had a huge target audience, especially in the GCC.
"He is definitely opening something that answers to a consumer demand and a trend for more fashionable yet still traditional clothing," said Mr Brair, a Palestinian.
"He's doing it in a way that's very scalable, which is very important - using an online platform versus retail tailor shops."
cmalek@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
Bio
Age: 25
Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering
Favourite colour: White
Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai
Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
MANDOOB
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Ali%20Kalthami%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Mohammed%20Dokhei%2C%20Sarah%20Taibah%2C%20Hajar%20Alshammari%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
QUARTER-FINAL
Wales 20-19 France
Wales: T: Wainwright, Moriarty. Cons: Biggar (2) Pens: Biggar 2
France: T: Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa Cons: Ntamack (2)
